What is OE E46 M3 stock ride height from factory?

[Maxhouse97]

Is the above ISTA measurement guide, the minimum droop before replacement needed???, Factory heights are roughly 630 mm on all 4 corners IIRC on a 19inch rim, or roughly up around the 370mm Hub to guard. Hopefully some more members can measure their stock heights for us and post in so we have a future guide. Mine is sitting at 600mm / 580mm on the 19inch 🤔 Style 67 19inch rim face is 525mm, Using the ISTA guide Front will be 356.5mm ( 619mm - 262.5mm) Rear would be 337.5mm ( 600mm - 262.5mm) or 14.05 In Front and 13.28 In rear

Thank you for this ... interesting. "14.05 in front and 13.28 in rear" is different than what I have seen in the past (i.e. 14.25" in front). I measured (unscientifically) on my car with stock suspension before I changed to my Ohlins around 14.5" in the front. Maybe it was just high.

On another note, with the understanding that 18" wheels don't necessarily measure 18" from lip to lip makes the Bentley pic almost useless for me (and anyone else on aftermarket wheels). I am on 18" ARC-8s.

Anyone else have a view of stock ride height using the hub center to fender measurement? I have to make a decision Monday before I send it to the shop. Its at 13.5" in the front right now after installing the Ohlins (preset from 3DM, not corner balanced yet) and it looks slammed to me. I don't like it and want to get back to stock ride height for all the reasons listed in Cobra's PSA thread. I just don't know what the reference should be.

[Maxhouse97]

So went with 14” front, 13.3” rear. I think it looks good.

[BlueBimmers]

So anyone out there know what the stock numbers would be for the 19" Comp wheels using the middle of wheel method? TIA.

[cobra]

A little late to the party, but just for reference I measured an unmodified 06 M3, and these are the fender to center-of-wheel measurements:

Front Left: 14.375
Front Right: 14.250

Rear Left: 14.250
Rear Right: 14.125

[old///MFanatic]

A little late to the party, but just for reference I measured an unmodified 06 M3, and these are the fender to center-of-wheel measurements:
Front Left: 14.375
Front Right: 14.250
Rear Left: 14.250
Rear Right: 14.125

Full tank of gas? 1/2 Tank? Weights/ballasts inside anywhere? Stock battery? Coupe not convertible.
All this is important.

[cobra]

Full tank of gas? 1/2 Tank? Weights inside anywhere?

No weights added or removed
1/4 tank of fuel

[BL92]

A little late to the party, but just for reference I measured an unmodified 06 M3, and these are the fender to center-of-wheel measurements:

Front Left: 14.375
Front Right: 14.250

Rear Left: 14.250
Rear Right: 14.125

Thanks for that

Mine must be sitting on different springs, i will buy new ones and compare

I got under the car, and can see the original part numbers on the shocks, They are 2002 part numbers, which end in 475,476,477. Not bad for 22 years old! 110k Miles

So shopping for replacement Sachs shocks and oem height springs now,
Aussie Dealer quoted me OEM $4100 AUD lol, FCP euro OEM came in at $3400 AUD and eBay . U.K around $2 to 2.5K AUD, though the springs will be Suplex brand not OEM

[Slideways]

Thanks for that

Mine must be sitting on different springs, i will buy new ones and compare

I got under the car, and can see the original part numbers on the shocks, They are 2002 part numbers, which end in 475,476,477. Not bad for 22 years old! 110k Miles

So shopping for replacement Sachs shocks and oem height springs now,
Aussie Dealer quoted me OEM $4100 AUD lol, FCP euro OEM came in at $3400 AUD and eBay . U.K around $2 to 2.5K AUD, though the springs will be Suplex brand not OEM

The rear dampers are almost guaranteed to be blown at that mileage. Low mileage OEM springs are a dime a dozen and cost a fraction of that. Used OEM springs (100USD) and new OE or Koni dampers (800-1000USD) would bring the suspension (minus bushings) back to how it was from the factory.

[BL92]

Definitely on the Buy Now List

eBay sluggin some shipping fees though

[Slideways]

Definitely on the Buy Now List

eBay sluggin some shipping fees though

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234311998416?_nkw=koni+e46+m3&itmmeta=01J69TFB3RTFZXDQF6TCSAKEVJ&hash=item368e155bd0:g:mvkAAOSwAxNazm1i&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKm%2Bdz7iQHDSM%2FkAs7ovZJXNfzQdoDSWLRICFUDaHb0UKQ8hfqM%2BELNgok8KsfrZDpts1LF8SSHOIADxVm4gn3om9nozXzlYPC%2BhxrZ8Rkt%2BrGl0npUKJLJ6mgXQj6qrzQx3gOjG2PwUhP5Bsqf6EcexTCUm6avFNvY9%2Bo1iJ7xK1BzwxEUxPmQ6PFVP4LMRMWK0LZDSOg%2B5pP5HqSs%2FjbJegBFzlUiXRcfpXLxniD9K7oRnP4zz3Qo3tmZSaMCZQkKHuqAA9%2Bkp07iqSMvYErkVSzeAgqE2UyOeXc9bOVXLUw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_qxvbqyZA

https://www.ebay.com/itm/145738907742?_nkw=e46+m3+rear+springs+genuine&epid=1311192225&itmmeta=01J69TMV3BGYYF5GJYGPAAARGE&hash=item21eeb7405e:g:IM8AAOSwE71mJpAe&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABAHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnSjbon2iOKJPQu%2F0g79Og4Gn7y7r9VLyvmEcVSBshG%2Fvi8InUN3Ne3g4q6GP2VXBr6WjMsWNcDUHVOrJr1PWSYueOaCqNMbqLAWmDA7cB2VLeZzJ0878CouXOhub1oc5hJt9Yb8iWmi7k9vOJhRTdBnQIVKbYyv83KJlA28zvyIgyn8319RtMQfGIYN%2FjqP2lvepKSoFbQlRXD1kOXToneLjD3RtgtKS3BnLt%2FhNPm9L107Miz%2FVMZGdGB9XupA7uAmFickBsTQ3f4Kpc8jhcsVDqxBGK3SFH2A9bqt9jtEmIQkfYsSrX1DWsi8dCR4Dk%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-Kx07qyZA

[BL92]

Springs look good, just gotta make sure i get the right colour for SMG coupe